DPR RI Dukung Perluasan Pengelolaan Gumuk Pasir untuk Sarana Edukasi
DPR RI Dukung Perluasan Pengelolaan Gumuk Pasir untuk Sarana Edukasi
The sand dune in the south coast of Yogyakarta is the largest in Southeast Asia. The form of the sand dune is continuously changing due to the wind, sea wave, and amount of sand from Mount Merapi that is brought down through Progo and Opak rivers.
Researcher in Geography and Environment from UGM, Prof. Dr. Sunarto, said the sand dune in Parangtritis coast was formed by nature due to natural activities, eruption of Mt. Merapi, and sea wave effect. “The sand comes from the eruptions of Mt. Merapi that is brought down to the delta and reaches the coast,” said Sunarto in a documentation screened in the Sand Dune Museum on Friday (20/7) for Members of Parliament that visited conservation area of sand dune in Yogyakarta.
Sunarto said the sand dune could serve as education material for society and academics related to unique natural phenomenon of earth activities, in addition to the karst mountains in the coast that was formed by ancient volcanic activities.
These natural phenomenons can all be seen if you come to the Sand Dune Museum or Parangtritis Geomaritime Science Park in Parangtritis beach, Bantul regency.
Vice-Chairman of Commission VII of Parliament, Tamsil Linrung, said the sand dune was a natural resource of Indonesia which is the largest in Southeast Asia. He said they agreed to the proposal of the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) and UGM to encourage the development of geomaritime science park for education purposes of learning while collaborative research be expanded. They saw that the management of the park for education and training had yet to be optimised. They would also urge the government through the Research and Technology Ministry, BIG, and Bantul regency government to support this development in the near future.
The Members of Parliament in their visit was accompanied by Dean of Faculty of Geography UGM, Prof. Dr. Muh Aris Marfai S.Si., M.Sc., who also explained the characteristics, restoration and conservation of the sand dunes.